Signal-box.



PATENTED SEPT.8,1908.

N. H. SURE N. SIGNAL BOX. 7 APPLIOATIOB' FILED JAN. 5, 1907.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

NATHAN H. SUREN, OF HEEDHAM, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO THE GAMEWELLFIRE- ALARM TELEGRAPH COMPANY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEWYORK.

SIGNAL-B OX.

Patented Sept. 8, 1908.

Application filed January 5, 1907. Serial No. 351,008.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, NATHAN H. SUREN, of Needham, county of Norfolk,State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement in Signal-Boxes, ofwhich the following description, in connection with the accompanyingdrawings, is a speciiciation, like characters on the drawingsrepresenting like parts.

This invention relates to signal boxes, and has for its object toprovide the box with an actuating lever adapted to be moved intoabnormal position, and to provide a frangible plate which incloses saidabnormally disposed actuating lever, and when broken permits saidactuating lever to resume its normal position, in order that it may beoperated to transmit the signal without opening the box door, whichresults in saving time at the moment a little saving is of the greatestimportance. Such means for inclosing the actuating lever quiteeffectively serves to prevent sending in false alarms, as the personsending in the alarm must first break the frangible plate and thenoperate the actuating lever.

While my invention is particularly designed for use on fire alarm boxes,it may be employed on signal boxes adapted for sending other than firealarm signals.

My invention comprehends the employment of any form of frangible devicewhich is adapted to inclose the actuating lever and hold it in itsabnormal position until broken, although in the present embodiment of myinvention said device consists of a glass plate.

Figure 1 shows in front elevation a signal box embodying this invention.Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the box door open. Fig. 3 is a verticalsection of a portion of the box door shown in Fig. 1 taken on the dottedline 3+3. Fig. 4 is a similar view, the frangible plate being broken,and the actuating lever having resumed its normal position. Fig. 5 is asectional detail of the actuating lever.

a represents theshell or case of the box which contains any usual orsuitable signaltransmitting mechanism; 5 is the inner door of the box tothe back side of which the signal-transmitting mechanism is supported;and c'is the outer door, which is herein re ferred to as the box door.

The actuating-mechanism for the signaltransmitting mechanism, as hereinshown,

- abnormal or has a finger-engaging lever (1 located at the front of thebox door and pivoted at its inner end to the upper end of a plate 6, orit may be otherwise movably connected therewith, so as to be moved intoa vertical position when out of use, see Fig. 3, and a horizontalposition when in use, see Figs. 4 and 5. A. slpring d is provided whichengages the lever and acts to move it from its abnormal or out-of-useposition into its normal or inuse position when permitted to'act.

On the back side of the box door a sliding plate or barf is arrangedwhich is movable in suitable guideways provided for it. The plate or baris drawn up and held in its elevated position by means of a spring fwhich is connected at one end to the frame and at the other end to saidplate or bar. per end of the sliding plate or bar is formed with a hookor it may be otherwise formed, to engage the winding arm or let-off w,of the signal-transmitting mechanism. The box door, in front of saidsliding plate or bar, is slotted and upon the outside of the door, infront of said slot, the plate 6 above referred to is located, said platebeing connected with the sliding bar by a narrow portion which passesthrough the slot in the box door and is adapted to work up and down insaid slot.

In front of the actuating lever thus described and on the front side ofthe box door a frangible plate It is supported. This plate is placed ina recessed frame 7L which is provided for it, which is open at thebottom to provide for the insertion and ready removal of the plate orthe pieces thereof. The plate is held in place by screws 2 or otherwise.The plate is located close to the box door, and as herein shown theactuating lever (i, when in abnormal osition, bears against it, so thatwhen the p ate is broken said actuating lever will be immediately thrustoutward by its actuating spring (1 and thereby caused to resume itsnormal position. My invention, however, is not limited to the employmentof a frangible plate which both incloses the actuating lever and holdsit in its "out-of-use position, as certain advantages are gained if saidplate merely incloses the actuating lever which is otherwise held in itsabnormal position. The person desiring to send in a signal first breaks{Jhe glass plate, and then pulls the actuating ever.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Let ters Patent is 1. In a signal boX, an actuating-leverpivotally connected to the actuating-mechanism of thesignal-transmitting mechanism, whereby it may be moved into and out ofoperating position, and a frangible plate inc osing said actuating-leverwhen in its ab normal position, substantially as described.

2. In a signal-box, an actuating-lever pivotally'connected to theactuating-mechanism of' the signal-transmittingmechanism, whereby it maybe moved into and out of operating position, and a frangible plateinclosing said actuating-lever which engages and holds it in itsabnormal position, substantially as described.

3. In a signal-box, an actuating-lever pivotally connected to theactuating-mechanism of the signal-transmitting mechanism,

' whereby it may be'movedinto and out of operating position, a frangibleplate inclosing said actuating-lever which engages and holds it in itsabnormal position, and means for returning said actuating-lever to itsnormal position when said plate is broken, substantially as described.

4. In a signal box, sliding actuating-mechanism for the signaltransmitting mechanism having a pivotally connected actuating lever,whereby said lever may be moved into and out of operating position, anda frangible plate inclosing said actuating-lever when in its abnormalposition, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification, inthe presence of two subscribing witnesses.

NATHAN H. SUREN.

Witnesses:

W. W. BOWES, J. A. ABBOTT.

